Get It Done Against Top 25 Teams

One of the high points in last year's college basketball season (unless you are a Cats fan) was Indiana's upset of the No. 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats on Christian Watford's last second three-point shot.

Even though IU entered the game 8-0, they were unranked because of a weak early season schedule. This win, however, signaled the Hoosiers' return to the national collegiate hoops scene.

Unfortunately, the Hoosiers were not able to maintain this level of play against all Top 25 teams on their schedule.

Last year, Indiana played nine contests against teams who were ranked in the AP Top 25 when they faced them and went 4-5 in those big games.

In comparison, Michigan State, one of the three Big Ten teams that tied for the regular season title, went 8-5 against AP Top 25 teams.

The old cliche that says, "To be the best, you have to beat the best" is true.

Kentucky was a perfect 6-0 against their ranked opponents.

Every game on the schedule matters, but IU needs to find ways in the upcoming season to not only get up for their big games, but find ways to take care of business.

Shoot More Threes

Last year, Indiana was the No. 2 team in the nation in three-point shooting percentage. They shot a scorching 43.1 percent as a team.

Jordan Hulls was the sixth best shooter from beyond the arc at 49.2 percent. PF Christian Watford shot 43.7 percent from downtown.

With having these kind of shooters, you would think that the Hoosiers would be launching three's like nobody's business.

Strangely, Indiana didn't.

On the year, IU shot 531 threes, which is No. 229 among all Division I schools.

You might argue that the reason they shot so well is that they were smart about when to launch a shot from distance. There is probably some truth to that thought.

However, if the Hoosiers can find ways in the upcoming season to increase their number of three-point attempts just slightly, that might be enough to get them over the hump in any of a number of tight games.

Do a Better Job on the Offensive Glass

Last year, Indiana's standard half-court offensive set was "four-out, one-in."

The Hoosiers kept the floor spread to create open looks from outside, drives to the basket by their many skilled perimeter scorers and space for Cody Zeller to operate down low.

The downside to this scheme is that it leaves IU weak on the offensive glass.

Last year, Indiana only grabbed 10.6 offensive rebounds per game (No. 218 in the nation).

Zeller is capable on the O-boards, but many times he is playing one-on-two or three when trying to collect a missed shot.

Victor Oladipo and Christian Watford are both athletic forwards who can pull down their share of offensive rebounds.

But it is not likely that Tom Crean is going to make huge adjustments in his basic offense (if it ain't broke...) and so this may be a matter that the Hoosiers will just live with in the upcoming season.